This week in 5 numbers: Federal government could offer matching retirement contributions

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how many workers think artificial intelligence can be trusted without oversight.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 26, 2026

Employer adoption of Trump accounts expected to be slow, attorney says

Organizations should “start lining their ducks up in a row” if they want to contribute to employees’ accounts this year, Venable LLP’s Lisa Tavares told HR Dive.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 26, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top trends in total rewards

Trends in total rewards strategies continue to shift in response to the market, employee demands and even advances in technology.

By HR Dive staff

Using percentages to manage raises may perpetuate gender pay gaps

Using dollar amounts instead could improve pay equity and help managers avoid potential legal risks, according to new research.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 26, 2026

Trump pitches retirement savings plan for workers without employer matches

The plan builds on the Saver’s Match program created under the Secure 2.0 Act passed in 2022, a White House official said.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 25, 2026

New federal paid leave framework confronts familiar divide on Capitol Hill

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act in 2025, which would establish a federal grant-based system.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 25, 2026

5 stories on the worker retirement problem

Workers do not feel confident in their ability to retire comfortably, recent reports show.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 19, 2026

Jury may decide whether homecare company owes nearly $6M in overtime

The U.S. Department of Labor alleged the employer intentionally misclassified employees as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime.

By Kate Tornone • Feb. 18, 2026

Want a bigger raise? Don’t be a long-tenured CEO

Bank of America’s $41 million payday for Brian Moynihan shows two trends: Newer big-bank CEOs received larger raises. And Moynihan’s 2025 compensation may have been held back by a comparatively better 2024.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 17, 2026

Many workers lack access to employer-provided retirement plans, data shows

“The bottom line is that if Americans are not saving for retirement through their employer, then they are probably not saving at all,” the National Institute on Retirement Security found.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 12, 2026

Kaiser reaches settlement with DOL over alleged mental healthcare access failures

DOL alleged that Kaiser didn’t offer adequate provider networks and used patient questionnaires to prevent members from receiving care.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 11, 2026

A third of workers say they want ‘heartbreak leave’

If a company were to offer time off to grieve a breakup, 43% of workers say they would likely use it, career site Zety found.

By Ginger Christ • Updated Feb. 11, 2026

[Podcast] The Stretch: Workforce health and benefits – expanded

This podcast series seeks to highlight innovative thinking when it comes to health and benefits.

By HR Dive's studioID • Updated Jan. 28, 2026

Retirement plans are evolving. HR’s role and risk are evolving with them

Managing today’s retirement plans brings higher stakes for HR leaders.

Feb. 9, 2026

The spread of ‘peanut butter’ pay raises

Across-the-board raises may have sticking power as companies reassess their compensation strategies in the face of inflation, Payscale said.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 5, 2026

Share your perspective in our 2026 Identity of HR survey

HR Dive would like your insight on the state of the profession and your priorities for the future.

By HR Dive staff • Jan. 30, 2026

6 or more days of PTO can reduce turnover, study shows

A new study shows sufficient PTO can prevent workers from quitting, right when employers say they’re investing in leave.

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 29, 2026

Nearly 3 in 4 US companies say they plan to invest in leave in the next 2 years

Employers are expanding multiple forms of leave, including parental, bereavement and caregiver leave, WTW found.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 29, 2026

How to keep health care costs predictable

Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care and coverage make health care costs more predictable.

Jan. 26, 2026

Feds tout reopened wage-and-hour violation self-reporting program

The Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, or PAID, now allows employers to voluntarily resolve Family and Medical Leave Act violations.

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 23, 2026

Why cover GLP-1s? They’ll lower employer healthcare costs, study says

While the medications may be pricey, a multiyear study by Aon found consistent use correlates with lower medical cost growth and fewer hospitalizations for cardiovascular events.

By Caroline Colvin • Jan. 23, 2026

‘Stark divide’ emerging in pay for in-demand roles versus stagnating jobs

Artificial intelligence-related skills are driving compensation growth, according to Aquent’s 2026 Salary Guide.

By Lara Ewen • Jan. 23, 2026

Small business health insurance coverage at risk as costs rise, EBRI finds

Even as overall employer-based coverage increased in the U.S., small companies pulled back.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 22, 2026

Trump’s ‘no tax on tips’ brings new W-2 era

In this transition year, employers should carefully document the methods they use to track tip payments, one tax professional said.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Jan. 22, 2026

Salary budgets to remain stable in 2026, WTW finds

Only 6% of companies said they plan to increase budgets, while 21% will reduce pay budgets from their initial projections, the report said.

By Ginger Christ • Jan. 21, 2026

How to keep health care costs predictable

Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care and coverage make health care costs more predictable.

Jan. 20, 2026